Can Cats Have ADHD?

Can cats have ADHD or get ADHD?

You may wonder whether cats can get ADHD when a cat is hard to settle, loud at night or always climbing the curtains.

• A vet check comes first, because a vet can look at your cat’s health, behaviour and home routine.
• The ADHD guidance used in Australia describes how ADHD is assessed in people, so it does not give a way to label an animal.
• Ask your vet about play and routine for your cat.
• Avoid describing a pet as having ADHD to anyone who has the condition, as it can sound dismissive of their experience.

Can a dog have ADHD? Do dogs get ADHD?

Dog owners often wonder the same thing, including whether all dogs have ADHD.

If your dog’s energy worries you, a vet can check for health causes and talk with you about exercise and training.

ADHD animals and the ADHD cat question: what people mean

The phrase “ADHD animals” can mean several different things, and it helps to separate them.

• A pet that is energetic or distractible, which is a question for your vet.
• A pet that lives with a person who has ADHD, where daily routines for both of you matter.
• A comparison made as a joke, which can feel unkind to people who live with the condition every day.
• A trained animal that helps a person, which leads to the assistance animal question below.

Can cats have ADHD if people do? How ADHD is understood in people

Knowing the facts for people helps you see why the animal question is so different.

• Around 6-8% of children and 3-5% of adults in Australia have ADHD, which means more than 1 million Australians, according to the Australian ADHD Guideline’s GP factsheet.
• The Australian ADHD Guideline states ADHD is highly heritable in children and adults, with heritability estimated at 70-80%.
• The same guideline says a genome-wide association meta-analysis identified 12 independent genomic loci that increase susceptibility to ADHD.
• healthdirect lists factors that may contribute, including premature birth, low birth weight, lead exposure and early childhood trauma.

To read more, see our guides to what causes ADHD and how many people have ADHD.

TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.

Attachment to stuffed animals and ADHD

Some people ask whether attachment to stuffed animals is linked to ADHD.

• A single habit, such as holding a soft toy, cannot tell you whether someone has ADHD.
• ADHD is assessed by a qualified health professional who looks at the whole picture, not one behaviour.
• If you are worried about attention, impulsivity or restlessness, talk to your GP rather than looking at a single habit.
• Do not use an online checklist to decide, because only a qualified professional can assess this.

ADHD service dog and assistance animals

An ADHD service dog is a trained assistance animal, which is different from a family pet.

1. 1Talk to your GP or treating professional. Ask whether an assistance animal could suit your needs and what evidence they would provide.
2. 2Check the NDIS guidance. If you meet the NDIS access requirements, ask the NDIA or your planner whether and how assistance animals are considered in plans.
3. 3Look at training and standards. Ask any trainer what training the animal gets and how they support you after placement.
4. 4Plan for daily care. Consider who walks, feeds and takes the animal to the vet, and whether a support worker could help with routines.

Where to get ADHD support in Australia

If the real question is about you or someone you care for, these services are a good place to start.

• Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Call the ADHD Foundation on 1300 39 39 19 for ADHD support, as listed by healthdirect.
• Visit the ADHD Foundation and ADHD Australia for community information.
• Read about whether ADHD can be cured and ADHD strengths and weaknesses.

When to talk to a GP or specialist

Speak to a health professional about yourself or your child when something affects daily life.

• You or your child often struggle to pay attention, sit still or control impulses at home, school or work.
• These patterns worry you or affect daily life in more than one place.
• You want to find out how an ADHD assessment works; our guide to how to know if you have ADHD is for reflection only.
• Someone in your family has ADHD and you have questions about your own situation.
• You feel overwhelmed or in crisis; call Lifeline on 13 11 14, and call 000 if someone is in immediate danger.

In an emergency, call 000.

TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.

Your next step

Whether you are caring for a person with ADHD or living with it yourself, practical support can make days easier. At TQN Care, we offer NDIS services including help around the home, community access and respite across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). We provide everyday support, not treatment, and we work alongside your health professionals.